Wedding Blog
Mr. Jasmine and I will be traveling to England in late August for the wedding of our very dear friends. Unfortunately for me, my passport has gone missing. After turning my apartment upside down, I’ve realized that I will just have to apply for a new one.
But, I’m not thrilled about paying for a passport that will become obsolete once I change my name. I thought about waiting until after the wedding and applying for an expedited passport with my new name– multiple people have assured me that I would receive it by the trip. And then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting another passport later on with my new name.
However, my plane ticket is in my maiden name. The airline representative I spoke to assured me that I should be fine if I bring along certified copies of my marriage license. But I’m a little nervous!
What sayeth the hive? Should I risk flying with a different name on my ticket than is on my passport? Or should I just suck it up and (eventually) pay for two passports?
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Share this post: Pressing Passport Issues
I’ve heard people say you really want your passport and plane ticket names to match or you could have trouble. Probably not worth the saved money if you show up and they won’t let you on!
I am so paranoid that I would probably just suck it up and pay for 2 passports! But, that’s just me 
I’ve heard of people being turned away and losing out on their plane ticket. Especially in this day and age, you don’t want to have anything that arouses suspicion. Have you checked with your family and/or the last people you traveled overseas with? They might be hanging on to it for you or it might be with their travel documents.
I’d pay for two passports. If for no other reason then to avoid the stress of rushing around to get all of your documents with your new name in order after the wedding for your new passport application.
I was in the exact same dilemma as you are and decided to just pay for two passports. There are enough issues these days just making it through security, I wouldn’t want to complicate matters more.
Honestly, i think you should keep your maiden name until after the trip because if security gets tightened, and regardless of your documentation, they will probably not let you go through. I went to England last summer when the car bombs were found and airport security was anal and unwavering. They wouldn’t let a stroller through without checking it through an x ray machine which was a pain in the butt for the parents.
If you can change your name on the plane ticket do that and then go ahead with the passport, but you want everything to line up…
Is it an e-ticket or a paper ticket? Is it possible they could at least put a note on your file about the name change, even if they can’t officially change it on the ticket? You’d definitely have to go through all the extra security, but you might feel a little more comfortable if you pushed for that.
I think they can do a name change amendment to your passport so you don’t have to buy a new one.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html
Pay for 2! I know it’s unpleasant to think about it and how many people think it can’t happen…but think racial profiling. Not good.
Pay for two, save the stress!
I’d pay for 2. Not cuz you should have to, but because TSA is pretty much the devil.
if your plane ticket is in your maiden name - PASSPORT IN MAIDEN NAME!!! Google it - read on about ruined honeymoons, financial losses due to Credit card stuff etc. If you are going to change you name - its has to happen to everything - all at once.
Wait… don’t you get a free passport name change if you order it within a certain time frame??
Hooray… I found the link.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html
So, you get your passport, then send in Form DS-5504 and you get a new passport in your new name at no charge if it’s within a year of your first issuance!
I just know this since I had to pay for mine to be updated and was jealous otherwise.
Nikkole is correct. You can get your name changed within six months of a newly issued passport for no charge. I just asked this question last week because my passport is going to expire one month before my wedding, and they told me to renew it, and once I am married, they will change the name.
Pay for one and get the second free! The first time around it took 3 months get for the honeymoon but needed to update the new one to reflect my new name for this summer and on top of it being FREE, it only took 3 weeks.
DEFINITELY get the passport in the maiden name. A dear friend of ours from Australia was delayed because her ticket and passport did not match. She eventually was able to straighten it out, but it took a few days and she ended up missing Thanksgiving dinner. 
Besides, as Mrs. Lemon pointed out, you can order up a name change after the wedding.
Can you change the name on the ticket? I’d call the airline and find that out first.
Wow, Mrs. Lemon, you rock! Seems like the problem has been solved. Get passport, get married, go to England, THEN change name on passport for free!! I needed to know this too!
Yes, what the previous posters said is true about getting a new passport with your new name for free. When we went to get passports, the guy actually gave me the form and told me to send it in once I change my name. He said that I had a year to do this after my name change. The form is just sitting on my desk waiting for me to fill it out!
That would make me way too nervous!! My passport, plan ticket & hotel reservations are in my maiden name. I’m just going to submit the name change form after the honeymoon. Enjoy your honeymoon.
I was going to say what Mrs. Lemon said but yeah, nevermind…I had to get a new passport 2 years after I got the last one, a rush as well as this last one since I was going out of the country 4 months after I got married.
I agree with the crowd and say get 2… but I also wanted to add that it’s never a good idea to carry two different passports with you at once. Even if you have the documentation, it’s really suspicious to have passports in two names while traveling. My SIL works for the World Bank, and actually had a really scary situation while traveling with both her maiden and married name passports. Granted that was while traveling in Russia, but still!
I would just get the one passport with your new name. Make sure you bring your old Driver’s License and Marriage License to the airport. It should be fine.
DARN it ! I will have had my passport for a year and 4 months by the time I need to get my new name put on it. BOOOO ! That is very good info to know thanks Mrs Lemon!
Glitter, you just have to send in the valid passport, forms, and documentation within six months of your marriage for the free change - it doesn’t matter when you actually purchased and received the original passport (so long as it hasn’t expired).
I have a similar problem-I am traveling out of the country for vacation in July and my passport is in my maiden name. I think the fact I have to pay $100 to simply change my name is a huge rip off, but I don’t want to take any chances, so I sucked it up and paid. Ugh!
I *just* mailed my passport renewal application out today. I hate spending the money knowing I may be changing my name in six months (still not decided on if I’m doing it)… but alas, the Gingerbreads’ wedding in Canada cannot be missed! Need that passport before then.
so, in other words, like other people have already said, just get 2 passports.
fyi, the new passports have radiofrequency chips in them and anyone can steal your private info using a card reader if they are in proximity to you. after i heard about this, i bought a sleeve that blocks this from happening therefore your private info is safe unless you take it out of the sleeve. hope that is helpful.
I think that the time period is actually within one year of issuance. I purposefully held off on renewing mine until I was within about 9 months of the wedding so that I wouldn’t have to pay twice. I’d recommend getting it now with maiden name and just getting it changed for free afterwards. Every country and airline has different regulations on the name change and documentation from what I’ve seen.
I believe that you have 6 months from your wedding day to send in a copy of your marriage liscense and a form to get a new passport, free of charge, with your married name. So I wouldn’t worry and get it with your maiden name now, and get a new one after the wedding
Thank you to everyone who pointed out that you can get a passport free of charge after you change your name– that is huge!!! So I’m just going to follow all of your sage advice and get a new one with my maiden name and another one later on with my new name. Thank you everyone!
I just recently got married and applied for a new passport with my married name, and this were done 3 days after I got married. however, I still have to paid a fee for the new passport. I hope this would help you
I don’t believe that you pay for 2 passports but just an additional fee for the name change.
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds5504/ds5504_2663.html
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Mrs. Jasmine, Chicago/LA
Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Attorney
Engagement Date: March 24, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 20, 2007
Venue: Hotel on the westside of Los Angeles
About Me: I'm a happy-go-lucky, imaginative spirit trapped in the body of a lawyer. I love reading, shopping, dining out, and exploring my beloved adopted city of Chicago with my fiance. We're planning the wedding of our dreams in my hometown of Los Angeles and we're excited to incorporate our cherished Indian/Pakistani customs and traditions.
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